The Novena begins Oct. 1 with Dr. Mary Amore the guest speaker that day. Dr. Amore is a distinguished theologian and author who serves as executive director of Mayslake Ministries in Downers Grove, Ill. The Novena concludes on Oct. 9 with the “Miracle Hunter,” Michael O’Neill, who investigates miracles and how they are approved.

The National Novena offers nine days of reflection and prayer, bringing pilgrims to the National Shrine in Champion, Wis. For those who cannot be at the National Shrine, Relevant Radio® will carry the National Novena across the country with a recorded version by the Most Reverend David L. Ricken, Bishop of Green Bay, aired several times each day. The Apparition Day Mass (Oct. 9) at 11 a.m. (central time) will also be broadcast live on the Relevant Radio network.

In addition to Dr. Amore and O’Neill, there are daily speakers during the National Novena, including:

Monday, October 2 – Father John Broussard. Father John is the Shrine Rector and is in the order of the Fathers of Mercy, who focus on the Sacraments of the Holy Eucharist and Confession in their preaching.

Tuesday, October 3 – Father Ed Looney. Fr. Looney is a gifted author who has written multiple books on the Virgin Mary, the Shrine and two children’s books.

Wednesday, October 4 – Father Andrew Kurz. Fr. Kurz is the founder of The Wisconsin Way pilgrimage, which leads pilgrims to the three shrines in Wisconsin. The journey takes pilgrims to parishes and monasteries through the Wisconsin countryside to experience God’s beauty and prayer. Also accompanying Fr. Kurz are Peter and Tracy Flucke, owners of WE Bike, etc. LLC. The Fluckes took a coast-to-coast pilgrimage riding a tandem bike and recently authored the book, Coast to Coast on a Tandem. They are helping Fr. Kurz start the annual Rosary Rally at Champion Shrine which will include both a bicycle rally and a 5k Run Walk in future years. This year’s Rosary Ride is for children.

Thursday, October 5 – Sister Laura Zelten. Sister Laura serves the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay community as Catholic Campus Minister, helping students, faculty and staff nurture their relationships with Jesus.

Friday, October 6 – Mother Mary Catherine. Mother Mary Catherine is the founder of the Missionaries of the Word in Baileys Harbor, Wisconsin.

Saturday, October 7 – Donna Cori Gibson. Gibson is a Catholic musician and singer/songwriter, who can be heard on Catholic radio stations and EWTN across the country. She will sing the Rosary at 10:15 a.m.on Saturday.

Sunday, October 8 – Dr. John Mortensen. Dr. Mortensen is president of the Thomas Aquinas Institute and associate professor at the Wyoming Catholic College. Dr. Mortensen received the Prize of the Pontifical Academies in 2010 from Pope Benedict XVI in recognition of his doctoral dissertation, Understanding St. Thomas on Analogy.

For the Children’s Rosary Rally on Sunday, Oct. 1, children are invited to bring their bicycles and tricycles to ride along the Shrine’s Rosary Walk. Families are encouraged to make it a day at the Shrine on Family Day, attending Mass, listening to featured speaker Dr. Mary Amore at 12:15 p.m., bringing their own picnic lunch at 1 p.m. and taking the rosary (bicycle) ride at 1:30 p.m.

Also during the National Novena, the Miracle of the Fire Prayer Service takes place Oct. 8-9 at the Shrine, remembering the Peshtigo Fire of 1871 when the area was spared from the fire as the faithful gathered with Adele Brise and prayed through the night. An all-night adoration begins at 7 p.m. with an outdoor Eucharistic Rosary Procession and an hourly group rosary throughout the night, into the morning of Oct. 9.

Apparition Anniversary Day on Oct. 9 commemorates the day in 1859 when the Blessed Mother appeared to Adele Brise and told her to “gather the children in this wild country and teach them what they should know for salvation.” The Apparition Day Mass will take place at 11 a.m. followed by the Anointing of the Sick. The Mass will be celebrated by Bishop Ricken.

The National Shrine of Our Lady of Good Help is located at 4047 Chapel Drive in Champion, centrally located between Green Bay, Sturgeon Bay and Algoma. It is open 365 days a year, from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. For more information, visit www.ShrineOfOurLadyOfGoodHelp.com.

Copyright 2017 Corrie Campbell for the National Shrine of Our Lady of Good Help

About the Shrine: On Oct. 9, 1859, the Queen of Heaven appeared to Adele Brise in Champion, Wisconsin, and said to her, “Gather the children in this wild country and teach them what they should know for salvation. Teach them their catechism, how to sign themselves with the Sign of the Cross and how to approach the sacraments; that is what I wish you to do. Go and fear nothing. I will help you.” In 2010, Bishop David Ricken granted formal Church approval to the Marian apparition at the Shrine of Our Lady of Good Help. In 2016, it was designated as a National Shrine by the U.S. Catholic Conference of Bishops. It is the first and only confirmed appearance of the Blessed Virgin Mary in the United States.

Mass is held at the Shrine daily at 11 a.m. and at 8:30 a.m. on Tuesday and Saturday. Confession is at 10 a.m. Sunday – Friday and 9:15 a.m. on Saturday. Devotions take place Wednesday at 4:30 p.m., during the Sunday Holy Hour at 2 p.m., Saturday and Sunday at 3 p.m. and the first Saturday of the month after the 8:30 a.m. Mass.

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